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Michigan needs more dairy processing

A lifelong dairy farmer says he’s seen a lot of changes in the industry but marketing milk and milk production have continued to stand out.

“Production per cow has changed dramatically and that’s one of our problems today—production per cow is so high.”

Velmar Green tells Brownfield his family’s farm has belonged to the Michigan Milk Producers Association for 72 years.

He says the increase is in milk production and lack of processing facilities are putting added pressure on prices. Green says Michigan’s milk processing facilities are full.

“We have to have another processing plant in the state some place and the quicker we can get this done and going,the better off we’ll be.” He says, “Even if we just started something today, it’s probably two years down the road before we have a market for milk so we’ve got a long two years ahead of us yet or more.”  Green says the cost of building a new processing facility is high and he says a collaborative investment by milk cooperatives or dairy companies would be needed for it to happen.

Green Meadow Farms is a four-generation family farm and milks 3,000 cows in Mid-Michigan.

 AUDIO: Interview with Velmar Green